Hadith: O Allah, treat harshly those who rule over my nation with harshness and treat gently those who rule over my nation with gentleness

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قَالَتْ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ -صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم- يقُولُ في بيتي هَذَا: «اللهم من وَلِيَ من أمر أمتي شيئًا فَشَقَّ عليهم، فَاشْقُقْ عليه، ومن وَلِيَ من أمر أمتي شيئًا فَرَفَقَ بهم، فَارْفُقْ به».
[صحيح] - [رواه مسلم]

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I heard the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) saying in my house: "O Allah, treat harshly those who rule over my nation with harshness and treat gently those who rule over my nation with gentleness."
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Muslim]

Explanation

This Hadīth stresses the immense importance of sovereignty. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated to Allah to treat harshly those who acquire a status of sovereignty over Muslims and treat them harshly. In contrast, he supplicated to Allah to treat gently those who treat their Muslim subjects justly, gently, and mercifully. In short, actions have consequences.